Water extracts of cinnamon and radix astragali

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to methods and compositions for providing improved insulin-sensitivity and/or enhanced insulin-like action, which leads to improved glucose uptake and utilization. This invention also relates to methods and compositions for lowering LDL, lowering triglycerides, increasing HDL, and lowering high blood pressure in a subject. The methods comprise administering to a subject an effective amount of a water extract of cinnamon and an effective amount of a water extract of Radix Astragali.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/416,945, filed Jan. 26, 2017; which is continuation-in-part ofPCT/US2015/042215, filed Jul. 27, 2015; which claims the priority ofU.S. application Ser. No. 14/444,873, filed Jul. 28, 2014, now U.S. Pat.No. 9,089,577. The contents of the above-identified applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a composition comprising a water extract ofcinnamon and a water extract of Radix Astragali. The compositionenhances insulin sensitivity and/or provides an insulin-like action.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem. In the UnitedStates, there are over 10 million patients with diabetes. Diabetes is asyndrome that is caused by a relative or an absolute lack of insulin.Clinically, it is characterized by symptomatic glucose intolerance aswell as alterations in lipid and protein metabolism. The maintenance ofnormal blood sugar levels is achieved by the actions of severalhormones, most notably insulin, but also glucagon, epinephrine,corticosteroids, and growth hormone. On the other hand, hyperglycemia isexemplified by higher than normal concentrations of glucose in theblood. The pancreas produces insulin which is released in response toincreased blood glucose concentrations. Insulin works to lower the bloodsugar levels by stimulating the uptake of glucose by cells. Glucose isused in cellular metabolism to produce energy, or is converted toglycogen for storage in the liver and muscles, or is used in theproduction of triglycerides and fats.

Crawford (J Am Board Fam Med, 22: 507-512, 2009) reports theeffectiveness of cinnamon for lowering hemoglobin A1C in patients withtype 2 diabetes.

Khan et al (Diabetes Care, 26: 3215-3218, 2003) report that intake of 1,3, or 6 g of cinnamon per day reduces serum glucose, triglyceride, LDLcholesterol, and total cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes.

Solomon et al (Diabetes Obes Metab, 9:895-901, 2007) report thatcinnamon ingestion reduced total plasma glucose responses to oralglucose ingestion, as well as improving insulin sensitivity as assessedby insulin sensitivity index.

Water extracts of cinnamon exhibit an insulin potentiating activity,i.e. they increase apparent insulin activity as measured by increasedglucose uptake by cells (U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,569).

Mang et al (European J. Clin. Invest. 36:340-344, 2006) report thatdiabetes mellitus type 2 patients treated with 3 g of cinnamon waterextract powder per day for 4 months decreased fasting plasma glucoselevel, in comparison with placebo-treated patients.

Traditional Chinese medicines such as Radix Astragali, Radix Rehmanniae,and Rhizoma

Coptidis can lower blood glucose and control inflammation (Xie et al,Diabetes Obes Metab, 2011, 13:289-301). The water extract of the fruitof Momordica charantia L. was reported to reduce the blood glucose ofKK-AY mice 3 weeks after oral administration (Miura et al., J. Nutr.Sci. Vitaminol, 2001, 47: 340-344). The exact of Begonia fimbristipulawas reported to improve kidney filtration function and improve theclinical symptoms of diabetic nephropathy rats (Wang et al., Chinese J.Biochemical Pharmaceutics, 2012, 33: 272-277).

Kim et al (Diabet Med., 30:1075-9, 2013) analyzed the clinical andlaboratory data of over 17,000 Korean adults who underwent routinemedical examinations with a median interval of 3.5 years to studyrelative contributions of insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction tothe development of type 2 diabetes in over 17,000 Koreans. Kim et alreport that among the participants who developed diabetes, 29%demonstrated predominant β-cell dysfunction dysfunction and 51% hadpredominant insulin resistance.

Song et al (Diabetes care, 30:1747-52, 2007) report that highhomeostasis model assessment (HOMA) of insulin resistance and low HOMAof β-cell function were independently and consistently associated withan increased diabetes risk in a multiethnic cohort of U.S.postmenopausal women.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method for increasing glucoseuptake in a subject. The method comprises administering to a subject aneffective amount of a water extract of cinnamon and an effective amountof a water extract of Radix Astragali.

The present invention is also directed to a method for regulating bloodglucose level in a subject. The method comprises administering to asubject an effective amount of a water extract of cinnamon and aneffective amount of a water extract of Radix Astragali.

The present invention is also directed to a method for decreasing bloodglucose level in a hyperglycemic subject. The method comprisesadministering to a hyperglycemic subject an effective amount of a waterextract of cinnamon and an effective amount of a water extract of RadixAstragali.

The present invention is also directed to a method of lowering lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and/or triglycerides in the bloodof a subject. The method comprises administering to a subject in needthereof an effective amount of a water extract of Cinnamon bark and aneffective amount of a water extract of Radix Astragali.

The present invention is also directed to a method of increasing highdensity lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol in the blood of a subject. Themethod comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effectiveamount of a water extract of Cinnamon bark and an effective amount of awater extract of Radix Astragali.

The present invention is further directed to a method of decreasing highblood pressure in subject. The method comprises administering to asubject in need thereof an effective amount of a water extract ofCinnamon bark and an effective amount of a water extract of RadixAstragali.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows glucose uptake results of different test compounds relativeto control (normalized to 1), by measuring the fluorescent intensityproduced by cells. Con=control, Ins=insulin, Cin=water extract ofcinnamon, A=water extract of roots of Rhizoma Coptdis, B=water extractof roots of Radix Astragali, C=water extract of roots of ChineseFoxglove, D=water extract of dried melon of Momordica Charantiap, andE=water extract of dried leaves of Begonia Fimbristipulata Hance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The effect of insulin to acutely stimulate glucose uptake into muscleand adipose tissue is essential for normal glucose homeostasis. Glucosetransport is the rate-limiting step for glucose utilization in muscle atmost physiologic glucose and insulin levels, as well as in type 2 andtype 1 diabetes. Progressive defects in insulin sensitivity and insulinsecretion contribute to the development of diabetes.

This invention relates to methods and compositions for providingimproved insulin-sensitivity and/or enhanced insulin-like action, whichleads to improved glucose uptake and utilization. Increased insulinsensitivity (i.e., decreased insulin resistance) leads to decreasingblood glucose levels in hyperglycemic patients. Increased insulinsensitivity lowers the risk to the development to type 2 diabetes in anormal subject or a pre-diabetes subject. Increased insulin sensitivityalso leads to lowering total cholesterol, lowering LDL-cholesterol,lowering triglycerides, and decreasing high blood pressure, which areassociated with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovasculardiseases. Increased insulin sensitivity also leads to increasingHDL-cholesterol.

Cinnamon or water extracts of cinnamon have been shown to be beneficialin subjects with varying degrees of glucose intolerance ranging fromnormal to type 2 diabetes.

The inventor intended to select and identify a Chinese traditionalmedicine that when combined with water extract of cinnamon, the overallinsulin sensitivity and/or insulin-like activity are significantlyenhanced, and the efficacy of the combined water extracts for regulatingblood glucose and/or treating diabetes is boosted.

The inventor discovered that several Chinese traditional medicines, whencombined with cinnamon, did not increase the insulin sensitivity and/orenhance insulin-like activity of cinnamon, even the Chinese traditionalmedicine by itself was reported to have some effect in lowering bloodglucose level. For example, when the water extract of cinnamon wascombined with a water extract of roots of rhizoma coptdis, roots ofChinese foxglove (also known as Radix Rehmanniae), dried melon ofMomordica Charantiap, or dried leaves of Begonia Fimbristipulata Hance,the insulin sensitivity or insulin-like activity of cinnamon was notincreased at all by the addition of another herb.

The inventor has discovered that combined administration of a waterextract of cinnamon and a water extract of Radix Astragali provides anenhanced insulin sensitivity and/or insulin-like action. The inventorhas discovered that combined administration of a water extract ofcinnamon and a water extract of Radix Astragali provides a betteractivity of increasing glucose uptake than each water extract alone. Inone embodiment, combined administration of a water extract of cinnamonand a water extract of Radix Astragali provides at least an additiveactivity. In a preferred embodiment, combined administration of a waterextract of cinnamon and a water extract of Radix Astragali provides asynergistic activity.

The insulin sensitivity or insulin-like activity, for example, can bedetermined by increased glucose uptake by adipocytes (fat cells).Glucose uptake can be determined by measuring the amount of fluorescentlabelled glucose taken up in the cells.

The present invention is directed to a method for increasing insulinsensitivity in a subject. By increasing insulin sensitivity, the presentinvention provides a method for increasing glucose uptake in a subject.The present invention also provides a method for regulating bloodglucose level in a subject.

By increasing insulin sensitivity, the present invention provides amethod of decreasing blood glucose level and/or glycosylated hemoglobinlevel in a hyperglycemic subject. The present invention also provides amethod for preventing a normal subject or a pre-diabetic subject fromdeveloping type 2 diabetes. The present invention provides a method oflowering triglycerides, lowering total cholesterol, loweringLDL-cholesterol, increasing HDL-cholesterol, and decreasing high bloodpressure in a subject such as Type 2 diabetic subject.

In one embodiment, the method comprises administering to a subject aneffective amount of a water extract of cinnamon and an effective amountof a water extract of Radix Astragali, wherein said water extracts areadministered in an amount effective to increase insulin sensitivity orcause an insulin-like action in the subject. “An effective amount,” asused herein, refers to an amount that is effective to increase insulinsensitivity or provide an insulin-like action in a subject. In oneembodiment, this method does not contain a step of administering to asubject an additional active ingredient (other than cinnamon or RadixAstragali) that provides insulin-like action. The two water extractscinnamon and Radix Astragali can be administered simultaneously in onecomposition or in two separate compositions. Alternatively, the twowater extracts can be administered sequentially.

In another embodiment, the method comprises administering to a subject acomposition consisting essentially of an effective amount of a waterextract of Cinnamon and an effective amount of a water extract of RadixAstragali, wherein said water extracts are administered in an amounteffective to cause an insulin-like action and to increase glucose uptakein the subject. “Consisting essentially of” refers that the activeingredients of the composition only contain cinnamon and RadixAstragali, and do not contain any other active ingredient that increasesinsulin sensitivity or provides insulin-like action.

The weight ratio of the water extract of cinnamon and the water extractof Radix Astragali used in the present methods is in general from about5:1 to 1:5, 3:1 to 1:3, or 2:1 to 1:2; with about 1:1 to 1:2 or about1:1 to 1:3 being preferred. About equal weight ratio (1:1) of cinnamonto Radix Astragali is more preferred. “About” as used herein, refers to±10% of the recited value.

The present invention is useful in treating mammalian subjects, such ashumans, dogs and cats. The present invention is particularly useful intreating humans. The subject can be a normal subject, a pre-diabeticsubject, or a subject suffering from a disease or a disorder, such as ahyperglycemia subject or a type 2 diabetic subject.

Preferred source of a raw material of cinnamon is bark from a cinnamontree, in the family of Cinnamomum. Preferred species are Cinnamomummairei, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum burmannii, and Cinnamomumcassia. Cinnamomum mairei is a tree with highly aromatic bark; its barkcan be used for preparing extracts. Commercial Cinnamomum bark, which isthe dried inner bark of the shoots, and ground cinnamon obtained from agrocery store can also be used for preparing extracts.

Radix Astragali is the dried root of perennial herbs, Astragalusmembranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge and Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (Fabaceae).Radix Astragali is also named Astragalus root, Astragalus propinquus,huang-chi, huangqi, hwanggi, membranous milkvetch, milkvetch, Mongolianmilk-vetch, neimeng huangqi, ogi, ougi, zhongfengnaomaitong. Majorchemical constituents in Radix Astragali are triterpene saponins(astragalosides I-X and isoastragalosides I-IV), and polysaccharides(e.g. astragalan, astraglucan AMem-P)

Cinnamon and Radix Astragali used in this invention are naturalsubstances derived from herbs, and are safe for human consumption.

Water extracts of Cinnamon and Radix Astragali can be prepared accordingto the procedures described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,569, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In brief, the sourcetissue is obtained either as a ground powder or is prepared by cuttingthe plant tissue into small pieces, pulverizing it, grinding it orotherwise increasing the surface area of the pieces of tissue tofacilitate extraction. Hydrophilic solvents such as water are used forextraction. Because it is safe, easy to use, and economic, water is apreferred solvent for extraction. A small amount of buffer can be addedto water to maintain the pH. A small amount of ethanol or methanol alsocan be added to water as a solvent for extraction. The amount of solventadded to the raw material for extraction is, in general, in a volumeranging from 2-200 times per unit weight of the raw material, andpreferably 20-100 times per unit weight.

Other solvents which can be used include dilute acids and bases. Diluteacids, such as acetic acid and hydrochloric acid also can be used: theacid concentration should be less than about 1 N, and preferably lessthan 0.5 N. For example, 0.1 N acetic acid or 0.1 N hydrochloric acidcan be an effective solvent. Dilute bases, for example, ammoniumhydroxide or sodium hydroxide, can be used as a solvent; theconcentration of the base should be less than about 1 N and preferablyless than 0.5 N. For example, 0.1 N NH₄OH can be used as an effectivesolvent to extract insulin potentiating activity.

The extraction can be performed at a wide range of temperatures, butpreferably at a temperature range from room temperature to about 100°C., for from about 15 minutes to overnight.

After extraction, the liquid which contains the insulin-like activity isseparated from any solid debris by centrifugation or filtration. If acidor base is used as the solvent for extraction, the extract usually isneutralized before further usage.

The water extract, which is free of solid debris, can be used directly,or the water extract can be lyophilized or dried to form a powder. Theliquid or the powder can be incorporated into a variety of basicmaterials in the form of a liquid, powder, tablets, or capsules toprovide an insulin-like activity.

While it is possible for the water extracts of cinnamon and RadixAstragali to be administered alone without other excipients, it ispreferable to formulate the active ingredient as a pharmaceutical orneutraceutical formulation. For example, the formulation may includediluents or excipients such as fillers, binders, wetting agents,disintegrators, surface-active agents, lubricants and the like. Typicalunit dosage forms include tablets, pills, powders, solutions,suspensions, emulsions, granules, capsules, suppositories. Each carrieris compatible with other ingredients in the formulation and isbiologically acceptable to the subject and inert.

Formulations include those suitable for oral and parenteral (includingsubcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous and intradermal)administration, with oral formulations being preferred. A preferred oralformulation is an encapsulated dry powder of a water extract ofcinnamon, a water extract of Radix Astragali, or a mixture of both waterextracts.

Chromium, generally in the form of chromium picolinate or chromiumchloride, can optionally be added in the formulation comprising a waterextract of cinnamon, a water extract of Radix Astragali, or a mixture ofboth water extracts, to provide a beneficial effect. Alternatively,chromium, generally in the form of chromium picolinate or chromiumchloride, can be administered separately.

Zinc, for example, in the form of oral zinc sulfate, zinc supplements,or zinc+MVM (multivitamin/mineral), can optionally be added in theformulation comprising a water extract of cinnamon, a water extract ofRadix Astragali, or a mixture of both water extracts, to provide abeneficial effect. Alternatively, zinc can be administered separately.

The formulations can be conveniently prepared in unit dosage form andcan be prepared by any method known in the art.

For example, to prepare formulations suitable for injection, solutionsand suspensions are sterilized and are preferably isotonic to blood. Inmaking injectable preparations, carriers which are commonly used in thisfield are used, for example, water, ethyl alcohol, propylene glycol,ethoxylated isostearyl alcohol, polyoxylated isostearyl alcohol,polyoxyethylene sorbitol and sorbitate esters. In these instances,adequate amounts of isotonicity adjusters such s sodium chloride,glucose or glycerin can be added to make the preparations isotonic. Theaqueous sterile injection solutions may further comprise oxidants,buffers, bacteriostats, and like additions acceptable for parenteralformulations.

The formulation according to the invention can be administered by anysuitable routes, including oral and parenteral (includingintraperitoneal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous andintradermal) routes. It will be appreciated that the preferred routewill vary with the condition and age of the patient, and howlong-lasting the treatment is.

The present invention provides a method for increasing glucose uptake orregulating blood glucose levels in a subject, by administering to asubject an effective amount of a water extract of Cinnamon and aneffective amount of a water extract of Radix Astragali.

The present invention provides a method for lowering blood glucoselevels in a hyperglycemic subject, by administering to a hyperglycemicsubject an effective amount of a water extract of Cinnamon and aneffective amount of a water extract of Radix Astragali.

The present invention also provides a method for preventing a subjectfrom developing type 2 diabetes, by administering to a normal orpre-diabetic subject an effective amount of a water extract of Cinnamonand an effective amount of a water extract of Radix Astragali.

The present invention also provides a method for lowering totalcholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels in a subject, byadministering to a subject an effective amount of a water extract ofCinnamon and an effective amount of a water extract of Radix Astragali.

The effective amount will vary depending upon several factors,including, but not limited to, the age and weight of the patient, thetype of the disease state treated, how advanced the disease state is,the general health of the patient, the severity of the symptoms, whetherthe water extract of cinnamon and the water extract of Radix Astragaliare administered alone or in combination with other active ingredients,the incidence of side effects, and the like. Generally, a human subjectmay take 1-10 capsules containing the water extract of cinnamon and thewater extract of Radix Astragali for treatment. Each capsule contains100-1000 mg of dry powder of a water extract of cinnamon alone, a waterextract of Radix Astragali alone, or a mixture thereof. Preferred dailyuse in a human subject is 500-5000 mg total of water extracts ofcinnamon and Radix Astragali. When a composition such as a capsulecontains a mixture of a water extract of cinnamon and a water extract ofRadix Astragali, the weight ratio of cinnamon extract to Radix Astragaliextract is in general from about 3:1 to 1:5, with about 1:1 to 1:2 orabout 1:1 to 1:3 being preferred. About equal weight ratio (1:1±10%) ofcinnamon to Radix Astragali is more preferred. Chromium, in an amount ofabout 100-300 μg, usually about 200 μg, can be added into thecomposition. Zinc, in an amount of 5-100 mg or 15-50 mg/day, can beadded into the composition.

The amount of total active ingredients, i.e., the dry powder of bothcinnamon water extract and Radix Astragali, free of solid debris, rangesfrom 25-10,000 mg, preferably 100-1000 mg, 200-1000mg, 200-2500 mg,500-1500 mg, or 500-2500 mg, to be administered to a human subject perday. The dry powder additionally can include chromium, in an amount of100-3000 μg or 100-300 μg, to be administered to a subject per day. Thedry powder further can include zinc, in an amount of 10-100 mg or 15-50mg to be administered to a subject per day.

The following examples are presented as illustrations, not limitations.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Glucose Uptake of Water Extract of Test CompoundsObjectives

The purpose of this experiment is to find a plant that can provide asynergistic insulin-like activity when combining with cinnamon.

Plants

Roots of Rhizoma Coptdis (A), roots of Radix Astragali (B), roots ofChinese Foxglove (C), dried melon of Momordica Charantiap (D) werepurchased from Beijing Chinese Medicine Pharmacy. Dried leaves ofBegonia Fimbristipulata Hance (E) was purchased from Zhaoqing FoodStore, Guangdong, China. A and E are herbs used in Chinese medicine.

10 g of A and D was each passed through a 30 mesh screen and suspendedin 100 ml water. B, C, and E were not applied to the 30 mesh screenbecause B was fibrous, C was sticky, and E was already fine. Then A-Eeach in 100 ml water was incubated at 80° C. for 2 hr. They were thencentrifuged at 5000 rpm for 20 min and 50 ml of each supernatant wascollected and freeze-dried. The yield of each compound was: A-26%,B-19%, C-74%, D-46%, E-26%. Water extract of cinnamon was preparedaccording to U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,569. Dry powder of water extract of A-Eand cinnamon was each dissolved in water to a concentration of 100mg/ml. Glucose Uptake. 2-NBDG(2-(N-(7-Nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)Amino)-2-Deoxyglucose) uptakewas measured as previously described (Zou et al. J. Biochem. Biophys.Methods, 2005, 64, 207-215; Nitin et al., International journal ofcancer. Journal international du cancer, 2009, 124, 2634-42) with somemodifications.

The mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line 3T3-L1 is a model formetabolism and obesity research, because the cells can be chemicallyinduced to differentiate into adipocytes. 3T3-L1 (ATCC® CL-173™) cells(1×10⁴ cells/well) were plated in a 96-well microplate and incubated inDulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM, ATCC® 30-2002™) supplementedwith pen/strep (100 U/ml of penicillin and 100 U/ml of streptomycin) and10% calf serum in an atmosphere of 5% CO₂ at 37° C. After 24-hr, cellswere cultured in 200 μL of low-glucose supplemented culture media onlyas a control (Invitrogen, #11885-092) for 3 hours. The cells were alsocultured in 200 μL of the same culture media added with 100 μg/mL ofwater extracts of different test compounds (cinnamon, A, B, C, D, E,cinnamon+A, cinnamon+B, cinnamon+C, cinnamon+D, cinnamon+E), or 1 μM/10μM of insulin for 3 hours. The media was then changed with glucose-freeculture media containing 50 μM 2-NBDG (Invitrogen, #N13195). After 30min, cells were washed using a pre-warmed phosphate-buffered saline(PBS) solution. Cells were imaged live using a fluorescence microscope(Zeiss LSM 510 (Carl-Zeiss Inc., Thornwood, N.Y.)) using 488-nm laserexcitation and a BP 530-580 nm emission filter. Images were quantifiedas mean fluorescence intensity using an ImageJ program (Version 1.48v).

Results

The average ratios (n=2) of fluorescence intensity in cells of testcompounds or insulin to control (normalized to 1) are calculated. FIG. 1show the calculated ratios; the SEM values are shown in error bars.After the fluorescence intensity of control is subtracted, thecalculated results show that cinnamon (Cin) plus Radix Astragali (B)provides a synergistic activity in comparison with cinnamon alone andRadix Astragali alone. The results indicate that cinnamon (Cin) plusRadix Astragali (B) enhanced the activity of cinnamon alone and providesimproved insulin sensitivity and/or enhanced an insulin-like action. Theresults also show that adding Rhizoma Coptdis (A), Chinese Foxglove (C),Momordica Charantiap (D), or Begonia Fimbristipulata Hance (E) tocinnamon did not enhance the activity of cinnamon.

Example 2 Pilot Clinical Study

People of 35-65 years of age, free of disease other than Type IIdiabetes, with a fasting blood glucose of 7.2-15.5 mmol/L, 2-hour bloodglucose of 9.4-16.7 mmol/L and a hemoglobinA_(1c) of 8.0-12%, areselected for pilot study. Patients continue their regular treatment fordiabetes, for example, sulfonylurea drugs, insulin, or no medication.

Each of seven groups of patients each take different capsules. There are3-5 patients in each group and they are each treated for 1-3 months with2 capsules per day each containing 500, 1000, or 2000 mg dry extractpowder per day administered orally. The capsules taken by each groupcontain dried powder of water extract of cinnamon and water extract ofRadix Astragali in 1:1 weight ratio. A control group will take placebocapsules.

Blood glucose, hemoglobinA_(1c), insulin, total cholesterol, LDLcholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides are measured in eachpatient at time zero, one, two and three months.

Example 3 Case Studies

Patient A is a 67 year old female with 11 years of type 2 diabeteshistory.

Patient B is a 79 year old female with 16 years of type 2 diabeteshistory.

Patient C is a 76 year old female with 3 years of type 2 diabeteshistory.

Each patient took one capsule (containing 250 mg of water extract ofCinnamon bark and 250 mg of water extract Radix Astragali) twice a dayfor 4 months. Different parameters such as triglycerides (TG), HLD, LDL,blood pressure (BP) were tested for each patient, and the results aresummarized below in Table 1.

TABLE 1 BP BP Systolic/ Systolic/ TG TG HDL HDL LDL LDL disastolicdisastolic Baseline Treated Baseline Treated Baseline Treated BaselineTreated Patient mmol/L mmol/L mmol/L mmol/L mmol/L mmol/L mmHg mmHg A2.42 1.33 A 1.94 1.49 B 1.43 4.13 B 1.70 3.64 C 140/90 127/74

The results showed that after treatment, patient A decreased hertriglycerides from high to borderline high (2.42 to 1.94 mmol/L) andincreased her HDL from 1.33 to 1.49 mmol/L; patient B decreased her LDLfrom high to borderline high (4.13 to 3.64 mmol/L) and increased her HDLfrom 1.43 to 1.70 mmol/L; and patient C decreased his Systolic bloodpressure (140 to 90 mmHg) and disastolic blood pressure (127 to 74mmHg), which indicate a change from stage 1 hypertension topre-hypertension or normal stage.

The invention, and the manner and process of making and using it, arenow described in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enableany person skilled in the art to which it pertains, to make and use thesame. It is to be understood that the foregoing describes preferredembodiments of the present invention and that modifications may be madetherein without departing from the scope of the present invention as setforth in the claims. To particularly point out and distinctly claim thesubject matter regarded as invention, the following claims conclude thisspecification.

What is claimed:
 1. A method for increasing glucose uptake in a subject,comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effectiveamount of a water extract of Cinnamon bark and an effective amount of awater extract of Radix Astragali, wherein said water extracts areadministered in an amount sufficient to increase insulin sensitivity andto increase glucose uptake in the subject, and the method does notfurther contain a step of administering to the subject another activeingredient that that increases insulin sensitivity.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the water extract of Cinnamon bark and thewater extract of Radix Astragali are provided in a compositioncontaining the two water extracts.
 3. The method according to claim 1,wherein the weight ratio of Cinnamon to Radix Astragali is about 5:1 to1:5.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio ofCinnamon to Radix Astragali is about 3:1 to 1:3.
 5. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of Cinnamon to Radix Astragali isabout 2:1 to 1:2.
 6. A method for decreasing blood glucose level in ahyperglycemic subject, comprising administering to a hyperglycemicsubject an effective amount of a water extract of Cinnamon bark and aneffective amount of a water extract of Radix Astragali, wherein saidwater extracts are administered in an amount sufficient to increaseinsulin sensitivity and to increase glucose uptake in the subject, andthe method does not further contain a step of administering to thesubject another active ingredient that that decreases blood glucoselevel.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the water extract ofCinnamon bark and the water extract of Radix Astragali are provided in acomposition containing the two water extracts.
 8. The method accordingto claim 6, wherein the weight ratio of Cinnamon to Radix Astragali isabout 5:1 to 1:5.
 9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the weightratio of Cinnamon to Radix Astragali is about 3:1 to 1:3.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 6, wherein the weight ratio of Cinnamon to RadixAstragali is about 2:1 to 1:2.
 11. A method for increasing glucoseuptake in a subject, comprising administering to a subject in needthereof a composition consisting essentially of a water extract ofCinnamon bark, a water extract of Radix Astragali, and chromium, whereinsaid water extracts and said chromium are administered in an amountsufficient to increase insulin sensitivity and to increase glucoseuptake in the subject.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein theweight ratio of Cinnamon to Radix Astragali is about 5:1 to 1:5.
 13. Themethod according to claim 11, wherein the weight ratio of Cinnamon toRadix Astragali is about 3:1 to 1:3.
 14. The method according to claim11, wherein the weight ratio of Cinnamon to Radix Astragali is about 2:1to 1:2.